--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We suffer the stress of infinite…" description: "\"We suffer the stress of infinite opportunity: There are so many things that we could do, and all we see are people who seem to be performing at star qu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/david-allen-2835_alive_we-suffer-the-stress-of-infinite-opportu_2419977.png" --- # We suffer the stress of infinite opportunity: There are so… ![“We suffer the stress of infinite opportunity: There are so many things that we could do, and all we see are people who seem to be performing at star quality. It's very hard not to try to be like them. The problem is, if you get wrapped up in that game, you'll get eaten alive. You can do…” quote by David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/david-allen-2835_alive_we-suffer-the-stress-of-infinite-opportu_2419977.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/david-allen-2835_alive_we-suffer-the-stress-of-infinite-opportu_2419977.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/375/david-allen-2835_alive_we-suffer-the-stress-of-infinite-opportu_2419977.png) > “We suffer the stress of infinite opportunity: There are so many things that we could do, and all we see are people who seem to be performing at star quality. It's very hard not to try to be like them. The problem is, if you get wrapped up in that game, you'll get eaten alive. You can do anything-but not everything. The universe is full of creative projects that are waiting to be done. So, if you really care about quality of life, if you want to relax, then ... control your aspirations. That will simplify things. Learning to set boundaries is incredibly difficult for most people.” [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Infinite choices create stress; focusing on a few high‑quality goals and setting boundaries reduces overwhelm. **In simple terms:** Too many options cause stress; limit goals. Key Takeaway Set clear priorities, say no. Themes productivity choice overload boundaries Mood analytical motivational Type self‑help practical When to use this quote - project selection - career planning - personal development Key Concepts decision theory focus management Questions to Reflect On - What are your top three priorities? - How can you enforce boundaries? A Different Perspective Over‑prioritizing can lead to missed opportunities and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Aspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiration/) [Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Quality of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality-of-life/) [Set Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-boundaries/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [The universe is an infinite opportunity creation machine. In every instant, the possibility of greater possibility is programmed into the nature of things. Love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-universe-is-an-infinite-opportunity-creation-machine-in-every/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Come, try, give any one of us, for instance, a little more independence, untie our hands, widen the spheres of our activity, relax the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/come-try-give-any-one-of-us-for-instance-a-little-more-independence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Relax. Nothing is under control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adi-da/relax-nothing-is-under-control/) [Adi Da](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adi-da/) > [This is what I do. I look at brains. I'm fascinated by it. I can spend hours doing it. In fact, if I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-mckee/this-is-what-i-do-i-look-at-brains-i-m-fascinated-by-it-i-can-spend/) [Ann McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-mckee/) > [I want to relax for a while, maybe go back to my medical practice. I got a lot of old patients waiting for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/i-want-to-relax-for-a-while-maybe-go-back-to-my-medical-practice-i/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [In fact, even during the audio release of 'Papanasam,' I said that I have reached a stage where I want to relax and travel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delhi-ganesh/in-fact-even-during-the-audio-release-of-papanasam-i-said-that-i-have/) [Delhi Ganesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delhi-ganesh/) > [I hate vacations. I hate them. I have no fun on them. I get nothing done. People sit and relax, but I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/i-hate-vacations-i-hate-them-i-have-no-fun-on-them-i-get-nothing-done/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [In today's society, many people feel stressed. So when they watch my videos at the end of a busy day, I want them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-ziqi/in-today-s-society-many-people-feel-stressed-so-when-they-watch-my/) [Li Ziqi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-ziqi/) > [If you want to relax, watch the clouds pass by if you're laying on the grass, or sit in front of the creek; just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/if-you-want-to-relax-watch-the-clouds-pass-by-if-you-re-laying-on-the/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [When I want to relax, I plop down on my couch and watch some great movie, usually a British drama - anything with Colin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobie-smulders/when-i-want-to-relax-i-plop-down-on-my-couch-and-watch-some-great/) [Cobie Smulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobie-smulders/) > [I want to relax and spend time with my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oleksandr-usyk/i-want-to-relax-and-spend-time-with-my-family/) [Oleksandr Usyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oleksandr-usyk/) > [I definitely like not working sometimes. Its so fun. I just love sleeping in. In America, everyone is driven to succeed and wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-graham/i-definitely-like-not-working-sometimes-its-so-fun-i-just-love/) [Heather Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-graham/) > [If I want to relax and not do anything, I don't want to leave home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-chan-wook/if-i-want-to-relax-and-not-do-anything-i-don-t-want-to-leave-home/) [Park Chan-wook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-chan-wook/) > [If Im on TV, I make a real effort to get ready. When I go out, I want to relax a bit more. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gethin-jones/if-im-on-tv-i-make-a-real-effort-to-get-ready-when-i-go-out-i-want-to/) [Gethin Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gethin-jones/) > [With every year of playing, you want to relax one more muscle. Why? Because the more tense you are, the less you can hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/with-every-year-of-playing-you-want-to-relax-one-more-muscle-why/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) ## More by David Allen > [“Klara Sztucinski, and Elliott Kellman. The administrative”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/klara-sztucinski-and-elliott-kellman-the-administrative/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [Your ability to generate power is directly proportional to your ability to relax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/your-ability-to-generate-power-is-directly-proportional-to-your/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“Too much information creates the same result as too little:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/too-much-information-creates-the-same-result-as-too-little/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [You don't actually do a project; you can only do action steps related to it. When enough of the right action steps have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-don-t-actually-do-a-project-you-can-only-do-action-steps-related/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [You won't see how to do it until you see yourself doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-won-t-see-how-to-do-it-until-you-see-yourself-doing-it/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“It’s the nature of human experience, which is always in some form of motion, to veer off course—sometimes in major, but consistently in minor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/it-s-the-nature-of-human-experience-which-is-always-in-some-form-of/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“The real challenge is to make good communication a handy and well-used tool. Then you are likely to pick it up and use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/the-real-challenge-is-to-make-good-communication-a-handy-and-well/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [Everything you’ve told yourself you ought to do, your mind thinks you should do right now. Frankly, as soon add you have two things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/everything-you-ve-told-yourself-you-ought-to-do-your-mind-thinks-you/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“We need ways to validate and support our thinking, no matter how informal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/we-need-ways-to-validate-and-support-our-thinking-no-matter-how/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“The value of goals is not in the future they describe, but the change in perception of reality they foster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/the-value-of-goals-is-not-in-the-future-they-describe-but-the-change/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“Taking the inventory of your current work at all levels will automatically produce greater focus, alignment, and sense of priorities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/taking-the-inventory-of-your-current-work-at-all-levels-will/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“have discovered that one of the major reasons many people haven’t had a lot of success with getting organized is simply that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/have-discovered-that-one-of-the-major-reasons-many-people-haven-t-had/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [Without a gut-level sense that you are ultimately in control of what's happening to you, you won't even consider the option that you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/without-a-gut-level-sense-that-you-are-ultimately-in-control-of-what/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/your-mind-is-for-having-ideas-not-holding-them/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) > [“you can decide what, specifically, something means to you and what you intend to do about it, if anything; if you can use a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/you-can-decide-what-specifically-something-means-to-you-and-what-you/) [David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) [Explore all 147 David Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We suffer the stress of infinite opportunity: There are so many things that we could do, and all we see are people who seem to be performing at star quality. It's very hard not to try to be like them. The problem is, if you get wrapped up in that game, you'll get eaten alive. You can do anything-but not everything. The universe is full of creative projects that are waiting to be done. So, if you really care about quality of life, if you want to relax, then ... control your aspirations. That will simplify things. 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